Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-23

slightest claim TO a place in society, knew
the Countess NaOna. An adventures
with European reputation of the black
est possible colOr-such was the general
description of the woman with the
death-like complexion and the glIttering
eyes.
Descending to particulars, each member
of the club contributed his own little stock
of scandal to the memoirs of the countess.
It was doubtful whether she was really
what she called herself, Dalmatisn lady.
1t was doubtful whether she had ever been
married to the count whose widow she
assumed 10 be. It was doubtful whether
the man who accompanied her in her trav-
els (under the name of Baron Rivar) was
her brother at all. Report pointed TO the
Baron as a gambler at every table" 90
the continent Report whispered that his
so-called sister had narrowly escaped being
implicated in famous trial for poisoning
at Vienna-that she had been known as
a spyin the interest Of Austria-that her
apartment" in Paris had been denounced
to the police as nothing less than private
gambling house-and that her present ap'
pearance in England was the natural re-
suit of that discovery. Only one member
of the assembly in the smoking room took
the part OF this much abused woman and
declared that her character bad been most
cruelty and most uDjustly assailed. But,
as the man was a lawyer, his interference
went for nothing, it was naturally attrib-
uted to the spiritOf contradiction inherent
in his profession. Hewas asked derisively
what he thought of the circumstances I'M
der which the countess had become en-
gagged 70 be married, and he made the
characteristic answer, that he thought the
circumstances highly creditable TO both
parties, and that he looked on the lady's
future husband as a most anviable man.
Hearing this the doctor raised another
shout of astonishment by inquiring the
name of the gentleman whom the countess
was about to marry.
His friends in the smoking room de.
cided unanimously that the celebrated
physician must be a second "Trip Van
Wrinkle" and that he had just awakened
from supernatural sleep Of twenty years.
1t was all very we'll to say that he was
devoted to his profession, and that he had
neither time nor inclination to pick up
fragments of gossip at dinner parties and
balls. A man who did not know that the
Countess Narona had borrowed money at
Homburg Of no less a person than Lord
Montbarry, and had then deluded him into
making her proposal of marriage, was a
man who had probably never heard OF
Lord Montbarry himself. The younger
members of the club, humoring the joke,
sent a. waiter for The Peerage, and read
aloud the memoir Of the nobleman in ques-
ton, for the Doctors beneft-with Illus
trative mOrsels of information interluped
by themselves.
Herbert John Westwick, First Baron
Montbarry, of Montbarry, Kings county,
Ireland. Created a peer for distinguished
military services in India. Forty eight
years old, doctor, at the present time.
Not married. Will be married next week,
doctor, to the delightful creature we have
been talking about. Heir presumptive'
his lordship's next brother, Stephen Rob
ert. married to Eta, youngest daughter OF
the Rev. Silas Marden, rector of Rumigatcr
and he's issue, three daughters, Younger
brothers of his lordship, Francis and Hen
ry, unmarried. Sisters of his lordship,
Lady Barville, married to Sir TheO-
dore Barville, Bart, and Aune,
widow of the late Peter NOrbury, Esq ,
of Norbury Cross. Bear his lordship'S
relations well in mind, doctor. Three
brothers Westwick, Stephen, Francis and
Henry. and two sisters, Lady Barville and
Mrs. NOrbury. Not one OF the five will
be present at the marriage and not one OF
the five will leave stone unturned to
stop it if the countess will only give them
4 chance Add to these hostile members
Of the family another offended relative not
mentioned in The Peerage, young
lady''--
A sudden Outburst of protest in more
than one part of the room stopped the
coming disclosure and released the doctor
from further persecution.
Don't mention the poor girls name;
it's too bad to make a joke Of that part Of
the business; she has behaved GObly under
shameful proyocation, there is bat one eX'
cuse for MOntbarry-he is either a mad
man or a fool. In these terms the protest
expressed itself on all sides, Speaking
conlidentially to his EeXt neigh6Or, the
doctor discovered that the lady referred ia
was known to him Through the countess
uomtession) as the lady deserted by Lord
Montbarry. Her name was Agnes Lock,
wood. She was described as being the
superior of the countess in personal attTac-
ton. and as being also by some years the
Younger woman of the two. Making all al
lowance for the follies that men committed
every day in their relations with women,
MOntharry's delusiOn was still the mos!
mOnstrons delusion On record. In this eX'
preston of opinion every man present
agrecd-.the lawyer even inclnded. Not
one of them could call TO mind the innu'
merahle instances in which the scxua! in
fluencc has proved irresistible in the per
sons of women without even the pretensiOr
to beauty. The very members of the club
whom the countess lin spite Of her personal
disadvantages could have most easily
fascinated, if she had thought it worth
her while, were the members who wonder
ed most loudly at Montbarry's choice of 8
wife
While the topic of the countess mar
rage was still the one topic Of converse
ton, q member Of the club entered tho
smoking room, whose appearance instantly
produced dead silence DR.. Wybrow's
next neighbor whispered 20 him, Mont,
barry's brother-lIenry Westwick."
The newcomer looked around him slowly
with bitter smile.
lyon are talking Of my brother" he
said. Don't mind me. Not one ofyou
can despise him more heartily than | do.
Go on, gentlemeu-go Onn'
But one man present took the speaker at
his word. That man was the lawyer who
had already undertaken the defense Of the
countess.
II stand alone in my position, " he said,
"and am not ashamed Of repeating it in
auybody's hearing. consider the COun-
tess NarOua to he cruelty treated woman.
Why shouldn't she be Lord Montbarry's
wife? Who can say she has q mercenary
motive in marrying him?"
Moutbarry's brother turned sharply on
the speaker. 81 say itw he answered
The reply might have shaken some men.
The lawyer stood on his ground firmly as
ever